Is 30 Too Old to Get a Healthcare Administration Degree?

Many people find themselves beginning or returning to school when they're in their 20s and 30s. One in-demand field that students can go back to school for is healthcare administration.

Healthcare administration deals with overseeing healthcare facilities and activities. 30 is not too old to get a healthcare administration degree, and in fact, there are benefits to getting a healthcare administration degree in your 30s. We break down what you need to know below.

Reasons To Earn Your Healthcare Administration Degree at 30

Whether you're returning to school to change careers or have finally settled on a dream career, there are a few good reasons to earn a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration including salary and job demand.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job demand for careers in healthcare administration may increase by over 30% over the next decade. The BLS also shows that the median salary for many of these careers is over six figures.

What Will I Learn In a Healthcare Administration Degree Program?

Healthcare administration degrees train students for roles in managing and overseeing healthcare operations. As a result, courses are often a blend of health science topics and management topics.

Courses will typically cover topics such as:

• epidemiology
• ethics and legal issues in healthcare
• health care economics
• health care management
• health care policy in the U.S.
• health care operations
• health communications
• organizational management
• public health
• strategic planning

What Can I Do With My Healthcare Administration Degree?

Students who have a degree in healthcare administration have several career options available to them. Many of these positions are within hospitals, doctor's offices, and other healthcare facilities.

As a result, those working in healthcare administration can find both a position and an environment they're comfortable in. We've listed some common careers for healthcare administration majors below.

Community Health Services Managers

The role of community health services managers is to oversee programs that support public and community health initiatives. They may be employed by nonprofit organizations, nursing and residential care facilities, and local governments.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that demand for community health services managers will increase by 9% by 2032. The average salary is less than other types of health services managers and is often in the mid-to-high five digits.

Medical Social Workers

Medical social workers are available to support individuals, families, and groups who are struggling with illnesses. They are most often employed by hospitals, but may also work for family services or outpatient centers.

According to the BLS, demand for healthcare social workers is only expected to rise by about 1% over the next decade, making it one of the lower-demand careers in healthcare administration. The average salary is also less than that of many other healthcare administration roles.

Human Resources Managers

Human resources managers can work in a variety of industries, but in healthcare, they can work for hospitals, doctors' offices, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, outpatient facilities, and more. Their job is to oversee things like:

• employee hiring and onboarding
• employee benefits
• employee terminations
• issues between employees or between employees and managers

The BLS predicts that jobs for human resource managers across all industries will increase by 5% over the next ten years. Most HR managers earn over six figures.

Medical and Health Services Managers

Medical and health services managers are responsible for planning and coordinating all the business activities of a healthcare provider. These providers may include hospitals, doctors' offices, nursing homes, and other care facilities.

Several different types of jobs fall under this category, including:

• Clinical managers: clinical managers are in charge of a specific department within a medical facility and their responsibilities vary based on their specialty and department
• Health information managers: health information managers are in charge of patient records, specifically making sure the records are complete, accurate, and secure
• Nursing home administrators: nursing home administrators oversee the day-to-day operations of nursing homes and long-term care facilities

According to the BLS, demand for medical and health services managers is expected to increase by 28% over the next decade. The median salary for medical and health services managers is just over six figures.

FAQs About Starting a Healthcare Administration Degree at 30

Are There Benefits To Starting My Healthcare Administration Degree at 30?

For many students, starting a degree program at 30, whether it's in healthcare administration or another field, has several benefits. To start, 30-year-olds typically have life experience that they can bring to their degree program.

Additionally, at 30, you're more likely to stick with your degree program and not switch degrees or drop because you get bored. You may also be eligible for financial aid options specifically for adult students.

What If I Already Have a Degree in Another Field?

If you already have an undergraduate degree in another field, there are a few options available to you. You can transfer your credits into a bachelor's program or pursue a master's degree.

When you transfer credits from an undergraduate degree into a second bachelor's, you'll be able to focus solely on healthcare administration courses and can bypass retaking general education courses. Otherwise, moving into a graduate program can be a good option as well.

Can I Complete My Healthcare Administration Degree Online?

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in healthcare administration online. These programs are ideal for busy adults who have other responsibilities, like full-time jobs or dependents to care for.